What Type of Couch Material to Buy with a Toddler, 2 Cats and 1 Dog

Hey L.,

Leather is a nice option but we all know it's pricey; with a new baby and a toddler I wouldn't shell out the money.

We don't have a dog, but we have 18 month twin boys and 2 cats - and we bought a couch while I was pregnant.

We went with what was affordable yet comfortable and then bought 4 - yes 4 couch covers. We rotate the covers about once every 7-10 days unless something gets spilled on them, puked on, or when there is super-shedding. I think doing it this way has helped a lot. We did have to teach the boys to leave the couch covers alone, but now they don't mess with them.

We looked at it from the perspective that no matter what we buy now, we will probably want to get rid of it once the boys are older and can control their messes better. We are thinking once they are in first grade we'll get a new one.

Good luck!

MICROFIBER all the way!!! Blood, Pen, red wine, dog goo, and any kind of child goo you could imagine comes out of this stuff. Very cozy and you don't have to peel your skin off of it when you take a nap on it.

As far as our furniture, we wanted leather all the way. The kids love it because it sort of sucks them in and is warm in winter and cool in summer (weird how that works!). Plus, no animal hair sticks to it. My sister, on the other hand, has a micofiber/microsuede couch and it is the WORST thing ever. Hair is constantly stuck to it and it's horrible to clean (a piece of candy was stuck to it and she moistened it to pull it off and a piece of the fabric came off with it!). I recommend either that denim or cotton-twill blend in a neutral brown or black or brown leather. As long as you teach cats/dogs that it's not a scratching post, I think you'll be fine. Great idea to have separate "pet blankets," that's what my in-laws do as well. Good luck!

Leather lasts the longest and is the easiest to keep clean.

Hi L.,

We have had leather furniture for 10 years and love it. We had a Chow dog who was very fluffy and shed tons. She has been gone for 5 years now and I am still finding her fur once in a while. We had a fabric couch and her fur stuck to it constantly. We have two boys (7 and 5) and we've had baby spit up, barf, coke and coffee spilled on it over the years and it just wipes right up! I would definitely buy it again.

We have a sectional, and with 2 boys and a big dog, we love it. It's a darker, neutral color, which helps. Our dog is trained to only be on "his" blankets when on furniture, which helps to keep the dog hair at a minimum. (We have a decorative throw for him tossed over one end.) Our vacuum has an upholstery brush--every month or so I run it over the couch and after almost 7 years, it still looks brand-new.

We have microfiber and LOVE IT! It's durable, has stood up to 2 very active boys who feel it is their to climb and jump all over the couches, and *BEST OF ALL* it's super easy to clean. I usually use a spray bottle with a soap and water mixture to clean it, but the sales guy that sold us out couches wrote on it with a ball-point pen and then wiped it off with a cloth and a spritz of 409. Amazing!
Liquids don't soak in as fast (think leaky bottles, leaky diapers, and spit-up) so you have more time to avoid those smells that get deep inside cloth furniture. I'm sold on it!

Microfiber is great! My mom has it & with 6 grandkids w/ sticky fingers it's ez to wipe clean. My next couch will be a microfiber material....most definitely!

LOVE microfiber! Totally recommend it. Spots just wipe off with a damp cloth. I think it's extremely family friendly.

Yes! I have a couch and a chaise lounge made from micro fiber and I LOVE them. I have 2 kids 2 cats 2 dogs and my husband is allergic to cats. We've had them for four years and I do think that dark colors are best. I have a light green couch and there are a few things I can't seem to get out all the way, but I let an adult eat on it and well, it spilled. So it wasn't anything my kids or pets caused. I have taken the cushions off and washed them in the washer and they are like new! I think that it is well worth the $$$

I think leather is the best. Very easy to clean up and as long as the cats are de-clawed you should be just fine. Granted it is a bit more expensive, but in my mind worth it as it lasts so long and looks good while you have it. If anyone in the house suffers from allergies, it is also a good option because allergens generally cannot get through the leather.

We bought 2 microfiber chairs and 2 leather couches in July. I HATE my microfiber, but the leather is AWESOME! Haven't spilled on them yet, but I've been told that the leather will handle it without staining because I had them put a protective coating on them at the shore. My Microfiber is like a sticky fabric and when I rest in it, my shirts ride up because they get stuck on the back. Blankets stick to it and my (3) cats hair will NOT come off. I use brushes and tape and it still doesn't come off. I was sold on them because all my friends and parent friends swore that the microfiber was the way to go, but for me...not good. I regret it often and wish I had just gotten al leather.

We have a microfiber couch and loveseat. WE LOVE IT!!! It is so easy to clean, all you need is a little warm water and a rag. We have four boys and 2 dogs and anything and everything comes off of it. When our two year old was going through his drooling phase the couch was covered in spots, and he also got some marker on it, and it all washed off. Sometimes it takes a little elbow grease, but it does come off. I hope this helps. good luck